Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW2015C: The Law of Torts

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Module Aims

The aims of this module are

to provide you with a clear understanding of the different types of legal obligation arising under the law of torts, and of the principles and rules governing the main types of tortious obligation;
to provide you with an understanding of the social and political dimensions of some aspects of tort law;
to enable you to read case law critically and use it in your own arguments;
to provide you with the opportunity to argue a tort law case together with others.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate knowledge of the different types of legal obligation arising under the law of torts. 2. Explain and apply the principles and rules governing the main types of tortious obligation. 3. Critically debate the current state of aspects of tort law in social and political context.
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Interpret and use case law in written and oral argument. 5. Use library and electronic resources, including journal articles and policy documents, to conduct research into legally complex areas.
Personal and Key Skills	6. Collaborate in a team to develop and evaluate strategies for tackling a problem. 7. Distinguish evidence-based claims from unfounded assertions and use evidence to support your own claims and arguments. 8. Demonstrate effective and accurate written communication skills in a manner appropriate to the discipline / different contexts.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

Introduction to tort law
Personal torts
The tort of negligence:
- Duty of care
  - Omissions
  - Psychiatric harm
  - Public bodies
  - Economic loss
- Breach of the duty of care
- Causation and remoteness of damage
- Defences
Occupiers’ liability
Product liability
Employers’ liability
Land-related torts:
- Trespass to land
- Private and public nuisance
- Rylands v Fletcher
Vicarious liability

Apart from these, the syllabus will also include a focus on the skills of argument.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
66	234	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	22	22 x 1 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	44	11 x 2-hour seminars
Scheduled learning and teaching activity	10	Workshop activities
Scheduled learning and teaching activity	12	6 x 2-hour peer-led law firm meetings
Guided Independent Study	88	Lecture preparation
Guided Independent Study	88	Seminar and workshop preparation
Guided Independent Study	10	Formative essay preparation
Guided Independent Study	48	Summative assessment preparation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Oral contributions during seminars	22 x 2-hour seminars	1-4, 7	Immediate oral feedback from peers and tutor
Draft of individual written submission	1000 words	1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8	Written peer feedback
Pre-trial oral group submissions (filmed)	5 minutes per person	1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8	Immediate oral feedback

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Individual written argumentative submission	35	1500 words	1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8	Individual written feedback. Supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on the ELE.
Reflective commentary on pre-trial oral submissions	10	800 words	1-8	Individual written feedback. Supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on the ELE.
Reflective commentary on teamwork undertaken over the course of the module and on completed peer questionnaires	10	800 words	6	Individual written feedback. Supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on the ELE.
Research essay on a controversy in tort law	45	3000 words	1-5, 7, 8	Individual written feedback. Supplementary oral feedback available. General comments given in a lecture or on the ELE.

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Individual written argumentative submission	Individual written argumentative submission (1500 words)	1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8	August/September reassessment period
Reflective commentary on pre-trial oral submissions	Reflective commentary on pre-trial oral submissions (800 words)	1-8	August/September reassessment period
Reflective commentary on teamwork undertaken over the course of the module and on completed peer questionnaires	Reflective commentary on teamwork undertaken over the course of the module and on completed peer questionnaires (800 words)	6	August/September reassessment period
Research essay on a controversy in tort law	Research essay on a controversy in tort law (3000 words)	1-5, 7, 8	August/September reassessment period